Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show

The Official Straight No Chaser Song of Christmas Day: "Peace"

Straight No Chaser is the place for jazz lovers (and those who will soon be jazz lovers) to enjoy podcasts with their favorite music and artists. Winner of the 2017 JazzTimes Readers' Poll for Best Podcast, your host Jeffrey Siegel will take you inside the world of jazz, from the new releases to the best festiva;s to remembrances of jazz legends.

Merry Christmas to you all. I am a practicing Jew who does not
celebrate Christmas as the birth of the messiah. However, I can
appreciate the universal themes of peace, love and understanding
that are prevalent this time of year, and so the Official Straight
No Chaser song of Christmas Day is "Peace" written by
Horace Silver, and sung by Norah Jones. This year we have a
new version recorded by Norah from her latest CD, Day
Breaks, which marked her return to creating a
jazz sound. Avideo of Norah playing "Peace" cab ne found
here.

Considered one of the finest ballads of the hard bop era,
"Peace" has a timeless message for us all, as the last few lines of
the song show:

When you find peace of mind, leave your worries behind
Don't say that it can't be done
With a new point of view, life's true meaning comes to you
And the freedom you seek is won
Peace is for everyone

Silver first recorded this classic fifty-one years ago, on his
Blowin' the Blues Away album, one of the last to
feature his classic quintet lineup of trumpeter Blue Mitchell,
tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Gene Taylor, and drummer
Louis Hayes.